The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) on Wednesday announced the suspension of Mike Ozekhome from the rank of senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against him.
According to a statement issued by Kabir Akanbi, chief registrar of the supreme court, the decision was taken at the committee’s 173rd general meeting held on June 23.
The LPPC said the suspension was approved pursuant to paragraph 26(6) of the guidelines for the conferment of the rank of senior advocate of Nigeria and all matters relating to the rank.
According to the committee, the suspension will remain in force pending the final determination of disciplinary proceedings before its disciplinary and ethics sub-committee, as well as other related proceedings.
“The suspension is intended to safeguard the integrity, dignity, and prestige of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria while due consideration is given to the matters under review,” the statement reads.
“Accordingly, Chief Mike Ozekhome shall refrain from parading himself, presenting himself, or otherwise holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria pending the final determination of the disciplinary proceedings.”
Ozekhome is standing trial alongside Ponfa Useni, son of the late Jeremiah Useni, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for allegedly using a fake Nigerian passport in a disputed property case in the United Kingdom (UK).
The duo was arraigned on a 12-count charge before Chizoba Oji, judge of the FCT high court in Maitama in February.
They pleaded not guilty to all the counts and were subsequently granted bail in the sum of N10 million each, with one surety in like sum. The sureties own properties within the FCT.
The controversy centres on a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX.
Ozekhome and Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general who is now deceased, are named in the property dispute.